MUMBAI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - India copper futures rose by over 1 percent on Monday helped by a rise in imports of the red metal to China, the world's major consumer, and a weak dollar overseas, analysts said. The most-traded November contract MCCX9 was 0.88 percent higher at 314.25 rupees per kg at 6:31 p.m., after hitting a high of 314.8 rupees earlier. China reported a near-30 percent rise in copper imports in September to 282,828 tonnes, fanning bullish sentiment that the world's biggest copper consumer would continue to draw in metal at a phenomenal rate. [ID:nBJI000173] Domestic prices had more than doubled since the start of the year on Chinese stockpiling and as hopes of an early economic recovery. The dollar fell to a 14-month low against the euro after a Chinese report saying Beijing should increase its holdings of euros and yen in its foreign reserves gave fuel for investors to sell the greenback further. [USD/] A soft dollar typically lifts dollar-denominated copper by making it cheaper for investors outside the U.S. "The upward movement is due to weak dollar and rising imports to China," said Navneet Damani, an analyst with AnandRathi Commodities. Copper may be in the range of 312-317 rupees. "As long as 308/309 rupees holds, we can see further upside till 318/320 rupees," said Priyank Upadhyay, head of research with Commtrendz Research. In other base metals, October zinc MZIV9 was 3.25 percent higher at 108.05 rupees per kg at 6:32 p.m., after hitting a contract high of 108.5 rupees. "Buying is recommended in zinc at 107.5 rupees, with a target of 112/115 in coming days and with a stop loss of 105," said Damani. Lead for October delivery MLDV9 was 1.13 percent higher at 111.40 rupees per kg. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Sunil Nair and Ramya Venugopal)

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